Garment holder



Feb. 11, 1930. R. s. SCOTT 1,747,088

GARMENT HOLDER I Filed March 31, 1928 Patented Feb. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE ROSSITER S. SCOTT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' GARMENT HOLDER Application filed March 31, 1928. Serial No. 266,314.

This invention relates to garment holders and involves a detachable fastening means cooperating with an elastic or other fabric band constituting a portion of any garment such as a garter, girdle, belt, band or strap.

In one aspect the present invention is an improvement on that disclosed in my prior Patent 1,588,626 of June 15, 1926, and alike with said prior patent the general object is to improvethe structure and efiiciency of garment holders of the class referred to and to increase the comfort and service thereof; and particularly to provide for the use of a realtively wide fabric band or strap, flexible or otherwise, in conjunction with a relatively narrow fastening means, involving a clasp plate actually narrower than the band so as not to increase the width or cause projections causing discomfort or other objections. In

accommodating the wide band to the narrow clasp plate there is necessarily an excess of fabric requiring to be disposed in a manner to avoid undue thickness, discomfort, or an unsightly arrangement. My prior patent shows a form of clasp plate, and fabric strip cooperating therewith, which partially accomplishes the objects referred to, but which involves the distinct folding-in of the side margins of the band at the constricted portion, giving a result which is not entirely effective and sightly, and which increases the thickness of fabric at this point.

It is therefore a specific object of the pres ent invention to afford a garment holder which is an improvement on my prior patent, especially in that the novel clasp plate hereof, in cooperation with the fabric band, permits the excess fabric at the constricted point to be disposed in a novel and advantageous manner, in which the double or folded margin is avoided and in which the excess material assumes a natural and sightly disposition, especially with a convex curvar ture around the middle part of the clasp plate and concave curvature of j. the marginal or excess fabric. While, however, the present invention is shown applied to the type of article of the prior patent, the novel features hereof may in some cases be employed in a different manner or with different articles. Further objects or advantages of the invention will appear in the hereinafter description of an embodiment thereof or will be apparent to those conversant with the subject.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and advantages, the present invention consists in the novel garment holder, fastening means, or clasp plate, and the novel features of combination, arrangement and structure herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 is a general exterior view of a complete garment, such as a garter, embodying the features of the present in vention.

Fig. 2 is a detached face view of the metallic clasp plate of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the first step or stage in the combining or assembhas been flattened out into the plane of the band, and the entering fabric of the band disposed in accordance with thisinvention.

Fig. 5 shows the completion of the assembling of the two components, the band. end having been drawn through the other open passage of the plate, and the fabric thereof disposed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the completely assembled article of Fig. 5.

Referring first to the clasp plate 9, this is shown as comprising an outer frame portion cut away at each end to form a first open passage 10 extending transversely to the axis of the plate and having both of its ends enlarged at 11, and a similar second open passage 12 having enlarged ends 13. Each opening or passage is substantially the shape of the letter U.

The two open passages 10 and 12 are separated by narrow cross bars 14, each extending from the side edge of the outer frame 9 transversely to an inner plate portion 15, arranged substantiallycentrally, and adapted in one way or another, as by a stud hole 16, to engage with a complementary clasp member or stud. The two cross bars 14, are substantially midway in the length of the plate so that the two open passages 10 and 12 are substantially symmetrical or similar. The inner or central plate portion 15 is connected to the outer frame only by the narrow cross bars 14, so that maximum openings are afforded for the passage and disposition of the fabric band. While the internal or inner portion 15 might take different shapes it is shown as of a generally oval shape so as to accommodate a stud hole 16 which is tapered toward one end 17, thus permitting a stud to be entered at the wide portion and drawn and held in the narrow portion thereof.

Referring next to the fabric band 18 this, in the case of a garter, will preferably be an elastic band. The band is shown as being compressed or constricted laterally at 19 where it enters the open passage 12 of the clasp plate. In the completed article the fabric, beyond this entry point, forms a convex portion or curve at 20, this being visible when the garment holder is in position. The fabric beyond this point passes through the other open passage 10 and the fabric portion 21 emerging therefrom diverges or spreads from its constricted width to the full width of the band, and beyond this point assumes naturally the full width as shown at 22, this representing preferably the free end of the fabric band, although as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 this extension might be carried further for any desired purpose.

The other extremity of the fabric band is shown in Fig. 1 as having sewed or otherwise attached to it an enlarged or stiff pad 23 carrying a clasp member preferably in the form of a stud 24 having a head at the extremity of a shank, substantially as in said prior patent.

The exterior and interior views 1 and 5 of the completed article show the neat and advantageous disposition of the band at all points. he fabric lies in an outwardly convex form or curve between the two passages of the clasp plate, namely at 20. No great extent of the length of the fabric is confined by the cross bars 1 1, on account of the narrow width of these bars. The fabric therefore is able to take a natural position as regards the excess material-at the two sides of each cross bar, and it will be observed from Figs. 1, 5 and 6 that the fabric at this point is recurved with respect to its curvature at 20 so as to present an outwardly concave disposition of the excess material at 19 and 21.

There is in effect a natural lay or disposition of the fabric at all points, and it is not unduly bunched, nor is it formed in distinct folds, at any point. The result is due partly to the fact that the longitudinal extent of greatest restriction has been reduced to a minimum by the narrow width of the cross bars 14, this not merely obviating inefficient and unsightly congestion of fabric at this point, but permitting the fabric to be expanded directly beyond the cross bars to its full width, and with a reverse curvature, tending to hold or maintain the fabric in the desired position, as shown. The inner plate portion 15 is surrounded to the maximum extent by fabric, and connected by the minimum amount of metal, consistent with strength, with the outer frame; and the fabric thus overlying the stud engaging portion 15 tends to bear upon the head of the stud and minimize the liability of accidental disengagement, after the stud has been entered in the large end of the slot 16 and allowed to move down to the small end 17 as indicated in Fig. 1. The garment holder is quickly applied and fastened, is sightly and efficient and moreover it is adjustable without difliculty by merely picking up the fabric at the convex portion 20, to the desired extent, and pulling the fabric through one or the other of the open passages 10 or 12 to alter the adjustment, and then reversely through the other passage. The arrangement of the 'U-shape passages and the cross bars therefor permit the fabric to be extended through the two passages as described forming a convex curve or contour, while the fabric emerging at the inner side of each of the two passages and from its contracted condition between the frame portion and inner portion, at each side of each cross bar, is recurved in an outwardly concave manner.

There has thus been described a garment holder, exemplified by a garter, applying the principles and attaining the advantages of the present invention. Since many matters of combination, arrangement and structure may be variously modified without departing from the principles it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except so far as set forth in the appended claim.

\Vhat is claimed 'is:

A garment holder having a wide fabric band carrying a narrow clasp plate, said clasp plate being substantialiy flat, and rigid, and narrower than its own longitudinal dimension, and formed with an outer dutline portion, an inner clasping portion of greater longitudinal than transverse dimension, and two thin cross bars connecting the outer and inner portions at the two sides, leaving U- shape fabric passages at the two ends, and the fabric band at its contracted portion extending longitudinally through one of said passages thence over said bars and inner portion and reversely through the other passage in an outwardly convex contour, While the excess fabric at each side of each cross bar lies recurved in an outwardly concave contour.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature hereto.

ROSSITER S. SCOTT. 

